U.S. patent application number 16/389395 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-19 for image forming system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Oki Data Corporation. Invention is credited to Taiki ARAI, Hirohito OKAZAKI.
Application Number | 20190384537 16/389395 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68839952 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-19 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190384537 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ARAI; Taiki ; et
al. |
December 19, 2019 |
IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM
Abstract
An image forming system has an image forming apparatus, a
terminal device and a network. The terminal device is provided with
a broadcast packet sending part that sends a broadcast packet, the
image forming apparatus is provided with a response sending part
that sends image forming apparatus specifying information
specifying itself in the network as a response to the broadcast
packet, and an image forming part that forms an image. The response
receiving part receives the response from the image forming
apparatus, an apparatus specifying part specifies the image forming
apparatus that sent the response based on the image forming
apparatus specifying information contained in the response, a print
job sending part that sends a print job to the image forming
apparatus through the network based on the image forming apparatus
specifying information, and the image forming part of the image
forming apparatus forms the image on a medium according to the
print job received from the terminal device.
Inventors: |
ARAI; Taiki; (Tokyo, JP)
; OKAZAKI; Hirohito; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oki Data Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
68839952 |
Appl. No.: |
16/389395 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1292 20130101;
G06F 3/1231 20130101; G06F 3/1236 20130101; G06F 3/1238 20130101;
G06F 3/1203 20130101; G06F 3/126 20130101; H04W 4/06 20130101; H04W
84/12 20130101; G06F 3/1269 20130101; G06F 3/1222 20130101; G06F
3/1226 20130101; G06F 3/1204 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12; H04W 4/06 20060101 H04W004/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2018 |
JP |
2018-116402 |
Claims
1. An image forming system having an image forming apparatus, a
terminal device, and a network that connects the image forming
apparatus and the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is
provided with a broadcast packet sending part that sends a
broadcast packet, which is associated with a broadcast format,
through the network, the image forming apparatus is provided with a
response sending part that sends, through the network, image
forming apparatus specifying information that specifies itself in
the network as a response to the broadcast packet, and an image
forming part that forms an image, the terminal device is further
provided with a response receiving part that receives the response
from the image forming apparatus that received the broadcast
packet, an apparatus specifying part that receives the response,
and specifies the image forming apparatus that sent the response
based on the image forming apparatus specifying information
contained in the response wherein the image forming apparatus is a
specified image forming apparatus, and a print job sending part
that sends a print job to the specified image forming apparatus
through the network based on the image forming apparatus specifying
information contained in the response, which is specified by the
apparatus specifying part, and the image forming part of the
specified image forming apparatus forms the image on a medium
according to the print job received from the terminal device.
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the
apparatus specifying part--receives the response by the response
receiving part such that one image forming apparatus which sent the
response is specified.
3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the
network is a wireless local area network, which is defined as
wireless LAN, the image forming apparatus runs in two different
operation modes that are an access point mode and another operation
mode other than the access point mode, switching therebetween while
running, the image forming apparatus has the operating mode of the
wireless LAN set to the access point mode, the broadcast sending
part sends the broadcast packet in a state connected to the image
forming apparatus through the wireless LAN, and the image forming
apparatus specifying information is an IP address assigned to the
image forming apparatus.
4. The image forming system according to claim 3, further
comprising: an operation part that accepts a print instruction from
its user, and a print job generation part that starts generating
the print job according to a print instruction received by the
operation part, wherein the print job sending part connects to the
specified image forming apparatus through the wireless LAN after
the print job generation is started by the print job generation
part.
5. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with a near field communication
receiving part that receives a service set identifier, which is
referred as an SSID, and a password in the wireless LAN from the
specified image forming apparatus through near field communication,
and the broadcast sending part connects to the specified image
forming apparatus through the wireless LAN using the SSID and the
password received by the near field communication receiving
part.
6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with a memory part that stores
the SSID and the password received by the near field communication
receiving part, and when sending the print job for the second time
or later to the specified image forming apparatus, the terminal
device sends the broadcast packet by the broadcast sending part in
a state connected to the specified image forming apparatus through
the wireless LAN using the SSID and the password stored in the
memory part.
7. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with a display part that
displays information, the near field communication receiving part
receives the operation mode of the wireless LAN in the specified
image forming apparatus in addition to the SSID and the password,
and when the operation mode of the wireless LAN in the specified
image forming apparatus received by the near field communication
receiving part is not the access point mode, the display part
displays information prompting to switch the operation mode of the
wireless LAN in the specified image forming apparatus into the
access point mode from the another operation mode.
8. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with a near field communication
sending part that sends ID information that can at least identify
an association with the terminal device to the specified image
forming apparatus through near field communication, the response
sending part of the specified image forming apparatus sends,
through the network, the ID information received from the terminal
device through the near field communication along with the image
forming apparatus specifying information as the response to the
broadcast, the response receiving part receives the response
containing the ID information along with the image forming
apparatus specifying information, and the apparatus specifying part
receives the response whose ID information matches with the ID
information sent by the near field communication sending part, and
determines that the response was sent from the specified image
forming apparatus.
9. The image forming system according to claim 8, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with an ID information
generating part that generates the ID information that uniquely
identifies the print job.
10. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with an operation part that
accepts an operation from its user, and a terminal device history
memory part that stores the ID information in association with the
print job, the image forming apparatus is further provided with an
image forming apparatus history memory part that stores the print
jobs received in the past from the terminal device in association
with the ID information, when reprinting of the print job has been
instructed by the user through the operation part, the terminal
device reads the ID information associated with the print job from
the terminal device history memory part and sends it along with the
reprint instruction to the image forming apparatus, and upon
receiving the ID information and the reprint instruction, the image
forming apparatus reads the print job associated with the ID
information from the image forming apparatus history memory part
and forms the image on the medium according to the print job by the
image forming part.
11. The image forming system according to claim 10, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with a terminal device history
deleting part that deletes the print job and the ID information
stored in the terminal device history memory part when a prescribed
period of time has passed since they were stored in the terminal
device history memory part, and the image forming apparatus is
further provided with an image forming apparatus history deleting
part that deletes the print job and the ID information stored in
the image forming apparatus history memory part from the image
forming apparatus history memory part.
12. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the
image forming apparatus is provided with a wireless LAN
communication part, which is configured to perform a wireless
communication in a single casting such that the image forming
apparatus receives the print job either in the single casting or in
the broadcasting, forming the image based on the print job.
13. An image forming system having a plurality of image forming
apparatuses, a terminal device, and a network that connects the
image forming apparatuses and the terminal device, wherein the
terminal device is provided with a broadcast sending part that
sends a broadcast through the network, each of the image forming
apparatuses is provided with a response sending part that sends,
through the network, image forming apparatus specifying information
that specifies itself in the network as a response to the
broadcast, and an image forming part that forms an image, the
terminal device is further provided with a response receiving part
that receives the responses from the image forming apparatuses that
received the broadcast, an apparatus specifying part that selects
one of the responses among the received responses wherein the one
of the responses selected is a selected response, and specifies one
image forming apparatus that sent the selected response based on
the image forming apparatus specifying information contained in the
selected response wherein the one image forming apparatus is a
specified image forming apparatus, and a print job sending part
that sends a print job to the specified image forming apparatus
through the network, which is specified by the apparatus specifying
part, and the image forming part of the specified image forming
apparatus forms the image on a medium according to the print job
received from the terminal device.
14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with a near field communication
sending part that sends ID information that can at least identify
an association with the terminal device to the specified image
forming apparatus through near field communication, the response
sending part of the specified image forming apparatus sends,
through the network, the ID information received from the terminal
device through the near field communication along with the image
forming apparatus specifying information as the response to the
broadcast, the response receiving part receives the response
containing the ID information along with the image forming
apparatus specifying information, and among the responses received
by the response receiving part, the apparatus specifying part
select one response whose ID information matches with the ID
information sent by the near field communication sending part, and
determines that the one response was sent from the specified image
forming apparatus.
15. The image forming system according to claim 14, wherein the
terminal device is further provided with an ID information
generating part that generates the ID information that uniquely
identifies the print job, an operation part that accepts an
operation from its user, and a terminal device history memory part
that stores the ID information in association with the print job,
and the image forming apparatus is further provided with an image
forming apparatus history memory part that stores print jobs
received in the past from the terminal device in association with
the ID information, when reprinting of one of the print jobs has
been instructed by the user through the operation part, the
terminal device reads the ID information associated with the one
print job from the terminal device history memory part and sends it
along with the reprint instruction to the image forming apparatus,
and upon receiving the ID information and the reprint instruction,
the image forming apparatus reads the one print job associated with
the ID information from the image forming apparatus history memory
part and forms the image on the medium according to the one print
job by the image forming part.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to an image forming system that is
preferable in applying to a case where a print job is sent to be
printed by an image forming apparatus connected through a network
from a terminal device such as a smartphone.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In recent years, commonly used is an image forming system
where an image forming device is connected with a terminal device
such as a computer device through a network, and the image forming
device receives a print job from the terminal device through the
network and forms, that is, prints, an image based on the print job
on a medium such as a sheet.
[0003] Proposed as such an image forming system is the one
utilizing a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) as the network (see
Patent Document 1 for example). In such an image forming system as
this, various terminal devices such as a notebook-type computer
device, a tablet-type terminal device, or a smartphone having a
wireless LAN function built-in can be connected to the network.
RELATED ART
[0004] [Patent Doc. 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application
Publication 2016-101676 (FIG. 2 and others.)
[0005] By the way, newly connecting a terminal device to a wireless
LAN in general requires properly setting an SSID (Service Set
Identifier) and a password of the wireless LAN and assigning it
with an IP address.
[0006] However, when a general user performs such work, it is
laborious because of his inexperience, and also the SSID, the
password, the IP address, etc. need to be acquired from an
administrator or the like. Especially, there was a problem that
even when the user wished to use an image forming apparatus
temporarily, work related to the network connection was extremely
complex, preventing an easy use.
[0007] This invention was made considering the above points and
attempts to propose an image forming system that allows an easy
print process from a terminal device.
SUMMARY
[0008] An image forming system, which is disclosed in the
application, has an image forming apparatus, a terminal device, and
a network that connects the image forming apparatus and the
terminal device. The terminal device is provided with a broadcast
packet sending part that sends a broadcast packet, which is
associated with a broadcast format, through the network, the image
forming apparatus is provided with a response sending part that
sends, through the network, image forming apparatus specifying
information that specifies itself in the network as a response to
the broadcast packet, and an image forming part that forms an
image, the terminal device is further provided with a response
receiving part that receives the response from the image forming
apparatus that received the broadcast packet, an apparatus
specifying part that receives the response, and specifies the image
forming apparatus that sent the response based on the image forming
apparatus specifying information contained in the response wherein
the image forming apparatus is a specified image forming apparatus,
and a print job sending part that sends a print job to the
specified image forming apparatus through the network based on the
image forming apparatus specifying information contained in the
response, which is specified by the apparatus specifying part, and
the image forming part of the specified image forming apparatus
forms the image on a medium according to the print job received
from the terminal device.
[0009] According to one of the embodiments of the invention, the
terminal device is able to obtain an image forming apparatus
specifying information in the network by selecting the response
sent from the specified image forming apparatus based on the
responses sent from image forming apparatuses in correspondence
with the broadcast sent from the terminal device. Using that, the
terminal device has the specified image forming apparatus execute a
print process by sending the print job to the specified image
forming apparatus.
[0010] This invention allows realizing an image forming system
where a print process can be easily performed from a terminal
device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall
configuration of an image forming system by the first
embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware
configuration of an image forming apparatus.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the software
configuration of the image forming apparatus.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
a wireless LAN setting memory part in the image forming
apparatus.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
an authentication information memory part in the image forming
apparatus.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
an apparatus information memory part in the image forming
apparatus.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
an NFC memory part in the image forming apparatus.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the hardware
configuration of a terminal device.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the software
configuration of the terminal device.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
a wireless LAN setting memory part in the terminal device.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
an NFC setting memory part in the terminal device.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
an NFC memory part in the terminal device.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the memory content of
an apparatus information memory part in the terminal device.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a startup-time information
write process procedure in the image forming apparatus.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing an apparatus information
update process procedure in the image forming apparatus.
[0026] FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing an apparatus information
modification-time information write process procedure in the image
forming apparatus.
[0027] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing an apparatus information
acquisition preparation process procedure in the terminal
device.
[0028] FIGS. 18A-18C are schematic diagrams showing a display
screen (1) of the terminal device.
[0029] FIGS. 19A-19C are schematic diagrams showing a display
screen (2) of the terminal device.
[0030] FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing a wireless LAN connection
process procedure by the terminal device.
[0031] FIGS. 21A-21C are schematic diagrams showing a display
screen (3) of the terminal device.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing a wireless LAN connection
process procedure in the image forming apparatus.
[0033] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen (4)
of the terminal device.
[0034] FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing a print job sending process
procedure in the terminal device.
[0035] FIGS. 25A-25C are schematic diagrams showing a display
screen (5) of the terminal device.
[0036] FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing a registered apparatus print
process procedure in the terminal device.
[0037] FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the overall
configuration of an image forming system by the second
embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a print history table
of an image forming apparatus.
[0039] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing a print history table
of a terminal device.
[0040] FIG. 30 is a sequence chart showing a new print process
procedure by the second embodiment.
[0041] FIGS. 31A-31B are schematic diagrams showing a display
screen (6) of the terminal device.
[0042] FIG. 32 is a sequence chart showing a reprint process
procedure by the second embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen (7)
of the terminal device.
[0044] FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of
an image forming system by another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] Below, embodiments of this invention are explained referring
to drawings.
1. First Embodiment
1-1. Configuration of Image Forming System
[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 by the first
embodiment is configured so that an image forming apparatus 2 and a
terminal device 3 are mutually connected through a wireless LAN 7
as a network and can mutually send and receive information through
NFC (Near Field Communication) 8.
1-2. Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus
[0047] The image forming apparatus 2 is so-called an MFP
(Multi-Function Peripheral) that has an image scanner function to
read an image and a communication function as well as a printer
function to form (that is, print) an image on a sheet as a medium,
and can operate as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine by
combining them.
[0048] As its block configuration is shown in FIG. 2, this image
forming apparatus 2 has a control part 11, a memory part 12, a
wireless LAN communication part 13, an NFC tag 14, a
display/operation part 15, and a print part 16 mutually connected
through a bus 10.
[0049] The control part 11 is configured centering on a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 17 and executes various processes such as
a print process and an information communication process by reading
prescribed programs from ROM (Read Only Memory) 18 or the memory
part 12 and using RAM (Random Access Memory) 19 as a work area. The
memory part 12 is a nonvolatile information memory medium such as a
hard disk drive or flash memory and stores various programs,
various setting information, various data, etc. Also, the memory
part 12 stores setting values consisting of values preset by users,
values set at the factory shipment time, etc., an IP address in the
wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1), print density, a uniquely-assigned
manufacturer's serial number, etc.
[0050] The wireless LAN communication part 13 is a wireless
interface conforming to a standard such as IEEE (Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. This
wireless LAN communication part 13 can switch among multiple
operation modes such as an infrastructure mode (hereafter also
called as an infra mode) and an access point mode (hereafter also
called as an AP mode).
[0051] Among these, the infra mode is an operation mode where the
image forming apparatus 2 becomes so-called a child machine,
wirelessly connects to a prescribed base station (an access point
or a mother machine, not shown), and sends/receives information
with the terminal device 3 etc. through the base station. On the
other hand, the access point mode is an operation mode where the
image forming apparatus 2 becomes so-called a parent machine, has
the terminal device 3 etc. wirelessly connected as child machines,
and sends/receives information with the terminal device 3 etc.
[0052] The NFC tag 14 is a wireless interface for NFC (Near Field
Communication) regulated by an international standard such as
ISO/IEC 18092. This NFC tag 14 has an NFC memory part 14M to store
information as well as an antenna to perform wireless communication
and a circuit to perform various signal processing (not shown) etc.
This NFC memory part 14M can store various information in advance
by the control of the control part 11. Also, written in the
vicinity of the NFC tag 14 on the outer surface of the image
forming apparatus 2 is a prescribed mark indicating that the
antenna of the NFC tag 14 is installed.
[0053] When the terminal device 3 is held over by the user, that
is, when the terminal device 3 is moved to a position adjacent to
the antenna of the NFC tag 14 in the image forming apparatus 2, the
NFC tag 14 performs a communication process by NFC 8 with the
terminal device 3. At this time the NFC tag 14 can send information
stored in advance in the NFC memory part 14M to the terminal device
3, and can also receive information sent from the terminal device 3
to have it stored in the NFC memory part 14M.
[0054] The display/operation part 15 is configured of a touch panel
where a liquid-crystal panel and a touch sensor are integrated for
example. Based on the control of the control part 11, this
display/operation part 15 presents various information to the user
by displaying various display screens, and can also accept the
user's operations input by displaying prescribed GUI (Graphical
User Interface) screens.
[0055] The print part 16 as an image forming part has exposure
devices, a fuser device, a sheet carrying mechanism, etc. that are
not shown. Among them, the exposure device has an LED (Light
Emitting Diode) head, a photosensitive drum, a toner cartridge,
etc., lets the LED head emit light based on image data supplied
from the control part 11, thereby forming an electrostatic latent
image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and lets toner
adhere to this, thereby forming a toner image. The print part 16
has four exposure devices corresponding to four colors of cyan (C),
magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and can form a color image
on a sheet by forming toner images of the individual colors and
having them transferred and fused to the sheet, that is, perform
color printing.
[0056] Also, the control part 11 reads prescribed image forming
programs from the memory part 12 and executes them, thereby forming
multiple functional blocks as shown in FIG. 3 and executing various
processes. Incidentally, among the functional blocks shown in FIG.
3, some of those having a function to store information realize the
function by utilizing the memory part 12.
[0057] A wireless LAN communication processing part 21 performs
communication processes in the wireless LAN communication part 13
(FIG. 2), such as modulation/demodulation and
packetizing/depacketizing. A wireless LAN management part 22
performs various processes accompanying wireless LAN communication,
such as switching the operation modes, an authentication process,
and an IP address assignment. This wireless LAN management part 22
further has multiple functional blocks.
[0058] A wireless LAN setting memory part 23 stores various
information necessary for the wireless LAN operation, such as the
operation mode such as the infra mode or the AP mode, and an
encryption scheme. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the wireless LAN
setting memory part 23 stores IP addresses for the individual
operation modes as an IP address memory table. When an
authentication execution part 24 (FIG. 3) is operating in the AP
mode, if an external device such as the terminal device 3 requests
participation in the network, it performs an authentication process
to judge whether to approve the participation. As shown in FIG. 5,
an authorization information memory part 25 stores an SSID and a
password as authentication information for collation in the
authentication process. Stored as these SSID and password are
values set in advance by the user or values stored as the initial
values at the factory shipment time.
[0059] Mainly when operating in the AP mode, an IP address
assignment processing part 26 (FIG. 3) assigns an IP address when
allowing an external device such as the terminal device 3 to
participate in the network. Assigned as this IP address is a value
that does not overlap with those of other terminals inside the
network within a prescribed value range. A broadcast response
processing part 27 as a response sending part performs a response
process to send prescribed response information when information by
a broadcast has been received. When a command by SNMP (Simple
Network Management Protocol) has been received from an external
device, an MIB (Management Information Base) response processing
part 28 performs a response process for it.
[0060] An apparatus information management part 31 collects various
pieces of information on the wireless LAN in the image forming
apparatus 2 such as the operation mode and the SSID, stores them in
the apparatus information memory part 32, and manages them. As
shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus information memory part 32 stores
information on the wireless LAN collected by the apparatus
information management part 31.
[0061] An NFC tag control part 33 (FIG. 3) controls the NFC tag 14
(FIG. 2) to read a content (FIG. 6) stored in the apparatus
information memory part 32 and write it to the NFC memory part 14M
(FIG. 2) or read information from the NFC memory part 14M. Once the
apparatus information is written by the NFC tag control part 33,
the NFC memory part 14M stores it as shown in FIG. 7.
[0062] For example, the NFC memory part 14M stores no information
as shown in Column (A) of FIG. 7 when power is turned on. However,
once the first write process is performed by the NFC tag control
part 33, the NFC memory part 14M stores and retains the same
information as the content (FIG. 6) stored in the apparatus
information memory part 32 as shown in Column (B) of FIG. 7.
[0063] A display processing part 34 (FIG. 3) performs processes
related to displaying information such as generating a display
screen to be displayed on the display/operation part 15 (FIG. 2).
An operation processing part 35 detects an input operation to the
display/operation part 15. For example, the display processing part
34 displays a setting modification screen for modifying various
setting values in the image forming apparatus 2, that is, the
apparatus information. Upon accepting an input operation to this
setting modification screen, the operation processing part 35 hands
the inputted values over to the apparatus information management
part 31. In response to this, the apparatus information management
part 31 modifies the apparatus information stored in the apparatus
information memory part 32 and stores new information after the
modification.
[0064] A print job processing part 36 performs a prescribed
analysis process etc. on a print job received from the terminal
device 3 etc. through the wireless LAN 7, thereby generating print
data to be supplied to the print part 16, and hands it over to a
print execution part 37. In response to this, the print execution
part 37 supplies the received print data to the print part 16 (FIG.
2), thereby performing a print process of forming toner images
based on the print data, transferring them to a sheet, and further
fusing them.
1-3. Configuration of Terminal Device
[0065] The terminal device 3 (FIG. 1) is so-called a smartphone
that has various information processing functions, communication
functions, etc., is configured in a relatively compact size, and is
carried by the user. As its block configuration is shown in FIG. 8,
this terminal device 3 has a control part 41, a memory part 42, a
wireless LAN communication part 43, an NFC tag 44, and a
display/operation part 45 mutually connected through a bus 40.
[0066] The control part 41 is configured centering on a CPU 47 in
the same manner as the control part 11 of the image forming
apparatus 2, and executes various processes such as an information
communication process by reading prescribed programs from the
memory part 42 and using RAM 49 as a work area. The memory part 42
is a nonvolatile information memory medium such as flash memory and
stores various data such as photos (image data) and document files
as well as various programs and various setting information.
[0067] The wireless LAN communication part 43 is a wireless
interface conforming to a standard such as IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac in
the same manner as the wireless LAN communication part 13 of the
image forming apparatus 2. This wireless LAN communication part 43
operates in the above-mentioned infra mode, wirelessly connecting
as a child machine to an external access point to send/receive
various information.
[0068] The NFC tag 44 as a near field communication sending part
and a near field communication receiving part is configured in the
same manner as the NFC tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 2, and
has an NFC memory part 44M to store information, as well as an
antenna to perform wireless communication, a circuit to perform
various signal processing (not shown), etc. This NFC memory part
44M wirelessly connects with the image forming apparatus 2 through
NFC 8 (FIG. 1) for example, and upon receiving various information
on the wireless LAN from the image forming apparatus 2, stores the
information.
[0069] The display/operation part 45 as a display part and an
operation part is configured as a touch panel in the same manner as
the display/operation part 15 of the image forming apparatus 2, and
it accepts the user's operation input as well as displays various
information.
[0070] Also, the control part 41 reads prescribed basic programs
from the memory part 42 and executes them, thereby forming multiple
functional blocks as shown in FIG. 9 and executing various
processes.
[0071] A wireless LAN communication processing part 51 performs
various communication processes in the wireless LAN communication
part 43 (FIG. 8) in the same manner as the wireless LAN
communication processing part 21 (FIG. 3) of the image forming
apparatus 2. A wireless LAN operation management part 52 manages
various setting values etc. in the wireless LAN communication part
43, and stores these values in the wireless LAN setting memory part
53. As shown in FIG. 10 for example, the wireless LAN setting
memory part 53 stores the IP address assigned to the terminal
device 3, a print job sending IP address for sending a print job,
etc.
[0072] An NFC tag control part 54 (FIG. 9) controls the NFC tag 44
(FIG. 8) to read information from the NFC memory part 44M (FIG. 8)
in the same manner as the NFC tag control part 33 (FIG. 3) of the
image forming apparatus 2. An NFC management part 55 manages
information on the NFC tag 44 such as whether the NFC tag 44 is
built in the terminal device 3 and whether the operation of the NFC
tag 44 is valid or invalid, and stores the content in an NFC
setting memory part 56. The NFC setting memory part 56 stores
various information on the setting of the NFC tag 44 in a
management table shown in FIG. 11.
[0073] A display processing part 57 (FIG. 9) performs processes
related to displaying information such as generating a display
screen to be displayed on the display/operation part 45. An
operation processing part 58 detects an input operation performed
to the display/operation part 45 by the user, and hands the
inputted content over to the individual functional blocks.
[0074] Furthermore, the control part 41 reads prescribed programs
from the memory part 42 and executes them, thereby forming a print
application 60 as a functional block. This print application 60 is
an application for sending a print job from the terminal device 3
to the image forming apparatus 2 and having it execute a print
process, and has multiple functional blocks inside.
[0075] A screen display/selection part 61 determines the content of
a display screen to be displayed on the display/operation part 45,
and also accepts a selection operation to the display screen. As
shown in FIG. 12 for example, an NFC tag data acquisition part 62
receives information that was acquired by the NFC tag 44 (FIG. 8)
and is stored in the NFC memory part 44M, and analyzes it. A print
setting acquisition part 63 acquires a print setting instructed by
the user through a prescribed print setting screen. A print job
generation part 64 generates a print job based on an image, a
document, or the like that the user instructed to print. A print
job sending part 65 performs a process for sending the print job
generated by the print job generation part 64 to the image forming
apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1).
[0076] An apparatus search part 66 controls the wireless LAN
communication part 43 (FIG. 8) to search for other apparatuses
connected to the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1). The apparatus search part
66 further has multiple functional blocks inside. An access point
connection processing part 67 connects to an access point of the
wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1) and requests an IP address assignment to
the terminal device 3. A broadcast inquiry processing part 68 as a
broadcast sending part and a response receiving part connects to an
access point, and afterwards generates and sends a broadcast
packet, thereby searching for other apparatuses connected to the
wireless LAN 7.
[0077] An apparatus specifying part 69 specifies, among responses
to the broadcast, the one received from the image forming apparatus
2 (the details are mentioned below). An MIB inquiry processing part
70 generates and sends an MIB command to the image forming
apparatus 2 connected to the wireless LAN 7, thereby inquiring
whether the image forming apparatus 2 is in a printable state, that
is, on line.
[0078] An apparatus registration part 71 registers information on
the image forming apparatus 2 searched for by the apparatus search
part 66 in the print application 60, thereby storing the
information on the image forming apparatus 2 in an apparatus
information memory part 72. As shown in FIG. 13, this apparatus
information memory part 72 stores information such as the apparatus
name and the SSID of the image forming apparatus 2 as information
necessary for connecting with the image forming apparatus 2 through
the wireless LAN 7. Thereby, the print application 60 can perform a
search process using the stored SSID for printing next time and
thereafter, making it possible to connect easily with the
registered image forming apparatus 2 and instruct printing (the
details are mentioned below).
1-4. Wireless Connection Print Process
[0079] Next, explained is a wireless connection print process where
a print process is performed by connecting the terminal device 3 to
the image forming apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN 7. Here, it
is assumed that the image forming apparatus 2 is set to the infra
mode and connected to another network that is not shown. It is also
assumed that the terminal device 3 is not connected with the image
forming apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN and has not acquired
information on the wireless LAN for connecting to the image forming
apparatus 2, either. It is further assumed that the user carrying
the terminal device 3 is located in the vicinity of the image
forming apparatus 2 and wishes a print process of a photo (that is,
image data) by the image forming apparatus 2. For the convenience
of explanation, this image forming apparatus 2 is also called the
target apparatus.
[0080] In this image forming system 1, it is explained in the
user's manual etc. that an operation called "print by holding over"
using the terminal device 3 should be performed in performing a
print process using the image forming apparatus 2 from the terminal
device 3 that is not connected to the image forming apparatus 2
through the wireless LAN. In this "print by holding over", first
the operation mode of the wireless LAN in the image forming
apparatus 2 is changed to the AP mode, next the print application
60 (FIG. 9) is started in the terminal device 3, and the terminal
device 3 is placed adjacent to the NFC tag 14 of the image forming
apparatus 2 to have them perform near field communication.
1-4-1. Preparation by Image Forming Apparatus
[0081] First, explained is a preparation in the image forming
apparatus 2. Once its power is turned on by the operation of the
user, the administrator, or the like, the image forming apparatus 2
performs a startup-time information write process to write
information to the NFC memory part 14M (FIG. 2) of the NFC tag 14
as well as initialization processes etc. of the individual parts.
Specifically, once the power is turned on, the control part 11 of
the image forming apparatus 2 starts a startup-time information
write process procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 14 and moves to SP1.
Incidentally, once the power is turned on, the image forming
apparatus 2 sets the operation mode of the wireless LAN to the
infra mode, and further memorizes that its current operation mode
is the infra mode in the wireless LAN setting memory part 23 (FIG.
3).
[0082] In SP1 the control part 11 collects information on the
wireless LAN of the image forming apparatus 2 from the wireless LAN
setting memory part 23 etc. and stores it in the apparatus
information memory part 32 by the apparatus information management
part 31 (FIG. 3), and moves to the next SP2. Thereby, as shown in
Column (A) of FIG. 6, the apparatus information when the power is
turned on is stored in the apparatus information memory part 32.
Incidentally, when the power is turned on, the NFC memory part 14M
has values of all the individual items empty as shown in Column (A)
of FIG. 7.
[0083] In SP2 the control part 11 executes an apparatus information
update process procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 15 as a subroutine,
thereby updating the memory content of the NFC memory part 14M.
Specifically, upon starting the apparatus information update
process procedure RT2, the control part 11 moves to the first SP11,
reads values stored in the individual items, that is, individual
values listed in Column (A) of FIG. 6 and individual values listed
in Column (A) of FIG. 7, from the apparatus information memory part
32 (FIG. 3) and the NFC memory part 14M (FIG. 2), and moves to the
next SP12.
[0084] In SP12 the control part 11 compares the values read from
the apparatus information memory part 32 (FIG. 6) and the values
read from the NFC memory part 14M (FIG. 7), and moves to the next
SP13.
[0085] In SP13 the control part 11 judges whether there is any item
whose value read from the apparatus information memory part 32
(FIG. 6) and value read from the NFC memory part 14M (FIG. 7)
mismatch. If a positive result is obtained, that is, if their
values mismatch for at least one item, the control part 11 moves to
the next SP14. Incidentally, when the power is turned on, because
all the items of the NFC memory part 14M are empty, the values of
all the items mismatch.
[0086] In SP14 the control part 11 writes the values in the
apparatus information memory part 32 to the NFC memory part 14M for
all the items having mismatching values, and moves to the next
SP15, ending the apparatus information update process procedure
RT2. Thereby, as shown in Column (B) of FIG. 7, the NFC memory part
14M comes into a state where the values of its individual items
match with the values of individual items in the apparatus
information memory part 32 (Column (A) of FIG. 6).
[0087] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in SP13,
it indicates that the values in the NFC memory part 14M match with
the values in the apparatus information memory part 32 for all the
items and that there is no need to modify the values in the NFC
memory part 14M. At this time the control part 11 moves to the next
SP15, ending the apparatus information update process procedure
RT2.
[0088] After finishing the apparatus information update process
procedure RT2, the control part 11 returns to the original
startup-time information write process procedure RT1 (FIG. 14), and
then moves to the next SP3, ending the startup-time information
write process procedure RT1.
[0089] Afterwards, in the image forming apparatus 2, a prescribed
setting modification operation is performed through the
display/operation part 15 (FIG. 2) by the user, the administrator,
or the like who wishes a print process from the terminal device 3
(that is, the execution of "print by holding over"), thereby the
operation mode of the wireless LAN is switched from the infra mode
to the AP mode. At this time, when the apparatus information such
as the operation mode of the wireless LAN has been modified, the
control part 11 executes an apparatus information modification-time
information write process procedure RT3 shown in FIG. 16.
[0090] Specifically, once the apparatus information
modification-time information write process procedure RT3 is
started, the control part 11 moves to the first SP21. In SP21, in
the same manner as in SP1 (FIG. 14), the control part 11 collects
information on the wireless LAN of the image forming apparatus 2
from the wireless LAN setting memory part 23 etc. and stores it in
the apparatus information memory part 32 by the apparatus
information management part 31 (FIG. 3), and moves to the next
SP22. Thereby, as shown in Column (B) of FIG. 6, the apparatus
information after the operation mode is changed is stored in the
apparatus information memory part 32. Incidentally, at this time
the NFC memory part 14M has values of the individual items written
as shown in Column (B) of FIG. 7.
[0091] In SP22, in the same manner as in SP2 (FIG. 14), the control
part 11 executes the apparatus information update process procedure
RT2 (FIG. 15) as a subroutine, thereby updating the memory content
of the NFC memory part 14M. In this case, because only the
"operation mode" item has a mismatch in SP13, the control part 11
writes only the value of the "operation mode" in SP14. Thereby, as
shown in Column (C) of FIG. 7, the memory content of the NFC memory
part 14M has the value of the "operation mode" item updated to "AP
mode".
1-4-2. Acquisition of Apparatus Information by Terminal Device
[0092] Next, explained is a process to acquire apparatus
information necessary for connecting with the image forming
apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN 7 by the terminal device 3
from the image forming apparatus 2. Once the print application 60
(FIG. 9) is started by the operation of the user, the control part
41 of the terminal device 3 starts an apparatus information
acquisition preparation process procedure RT4 shown in FIG. 17, and
moves to SP31.
[0093] In SP31 the control part 41 displays a startup screen D1
shown in FIG. 18A on the display/operation part 45, and moves to
the next SP32. Displayed on this startup screen D1 is a photo
category icon 111. This photo category icon 111 indicates that a
photo (that is, image data) stored in the memory part 42 (FIG. 8)
is selected as the print target.
[0094] In SP32, once the control part 41 accepts a tapping
operation by the user to the photo category icon 111 (or photo
button) on the startup screen D1, it moves to the next SP33. In
SP33 the control part 41 displays a photo selection screen D2 shown
in FIG. 18B on the display/operation part 45, and moves to the next
SP34. Displayed on this photo selection screen D2 are photo icons
121, 122, and 123 as thumbnail images which are shrunk-displayed
part of photos (that is, image data) stored in the memory part
42.
[0095] In SP34, once the control part 41 accepts a tapping
operation to one of photo icons such as the photo icon 122 on the
photo selection screen D2, it moves to the next SP35. It indicates
that among the multiple photos the user wishes to print the photo
(image data) represented as the tapped photo icon by the image
forming apparatus 2.
[0096] In SP35 the control part 41 displays a preview screen D3
shown in FIG. 18C on the display/operation part 45, and moves to
the next SP36. On the preview screen D3, other than a preview image
131 showing the whole image of the photo, a print setting
specifying part 132 for letting the user specify a print setting, a
print by holding over button 133 for starting the print by holding
over process, and a print button 134 for starting a normal print
process are installed. Further installed on the print setting
specifying part 132 are a sheet size selection column 135 for
specifying a sheet size, a double-side print selection column 136
for specifying double-side printing or single-side printing, a
color selection column 137 for specifying color printing or
monochrome printing, and a number of copies selection column 138
for specifying the number of copies to print.
[0097] In SP36, once the user performs an operation to each of the
columns of the print setting specifying part 132 on the preview
screen D3, the control part 41 modifies the print setting as
appropriate according to this operation, and moves to the next
SP37. In SP37, once the print by holding over button 133 is tapped,
the control part 41 accepts the tapping operation, regards that a
print instruction to print the specified photo (hereafter, this is
called the target photo) by the image forming apparatus 2 according
to the specified print setting has been accepted, and moves to the
next SP38. Also, at this time the control part 41 acquires the
print setting selection results, the setting values, etc. specified
by the user on the preview screen D3 by the print setting
acquisition part 63 (FIG. 9).
[0098] In SP38, by referring to the memory content (FIG. 11) of the
NFC setting memory part 56 (FIG. 9), the control part 41 judges
whether the NFC tag 44 is built in the terminal device 3. If a
negative result is obtained here, it indicates that because the NFC
tag 44 is not built in the terminal device 3, the "print by holding
over" process cannot be executed. At this time the control part 41
moves to the next SP39, displays an NFC not built-in display screen
D4 shown in FIG. 19A on the display/operation part 45, and notifies
the user through a message 141 that print by holding over is
unavailable. Once an OK button 142 is tapped by the user on this
NFC not built-in display screen D4, the control part 41 returns to
SP35.
[0099] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP38,
it indicates that the terminal device 3 has the NFC tag 14 built in
at least. At this time the control part 41 moves to the next SP40,
and judges whether the function of the NFC tag 44 is enabled by
referring to the memory content (FIG. 11) of the NFC setting memory
part 56 (FIG. 9) again. If a negative result is obtained here, it
indicates that because the function of the NFC tag 44 is disabled,
the "print by holding over" process cannot be executed. At this
time the control part 41 moves to the next SP41, displays an NFC
disabled display screen D5 shown in FIG. 19B on the
display/operation part 45, and notifies the user through a message
151 that the print by holding over is unavailable. Once an OK
button 152 is tapped by the user on this NFC disabled display
screen D5, the control part 41 returns to SP35.
[0100] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP40,
it indicates that because the NFC tag 44 is built in the terminal
device 3 and the function of the NFC tag 44 is enabled, the print
by holding over process can be executed. At this time the control
part 41 moves to the next SP42.
[0101] In SP42 the control part 41 starts generating a print job
for printing the image data of the target photo according to the
specified print setting by the print job generation part 64 (FIG.
9). Along with this, the control part 41 displays a print data
creation notification screen D6 shown in FIG. 19C on the
display/operation part 45, thereby notifying the user through a
message 161 that the print job (print data) is being generated.
After doing so, the control part 41 moves to the next SP43, ending
the apparatus information acquisition preparation process procedure
RT4.
1-4-3. Connection to Wireless LAN
[0102] Upon finishing the apparatus information acquisition
preparation process procedure RT4 (FIG. 17) mentioned above, the
control part 41 subsequently starts a wireless LAN connection
process procedure RT5 shown in FIG. 20, and moves to the first
SP51. In SP51 the control part 41 displays a hold-over request
screen D7 shown in FIG. 21A on the display/operation part 45,
thereby requesting the user through a message 171 to hold the
terminal device 3 over the NFC tag 14 of the image forming
apparatus 2.
[0103] In SP52 the control part 41 judges whether the terminal
device 3 was held over the NFC tag 14 of the image forming
apparatus 2, specifically whether a wireless connection through NFC
8 (FIG. 1) was established by the NFC tag 44 with the NFC tag 14 of
the image forming apparatus 2 and information was exchanged. If a
negative result is obtained here, the control part 41 repeats this
SP52, thereby waiting for the terminal device 3 to be held over the
NFC tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 2.
[0104] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP52,
it indicates that the NFC tag 44 established a wireless connection
through NFC 8 (FIG. 1) with the NFC tag 14 of the image forming
apparatus 2, exchanged information, and stored the apparatus
information received from the image forming apparatus 2 in the NFC
memory part 44M. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the same information
as the memory content (Column (C) of FIG. 7) stored in the NFC
memory part 14M of the image forming apparatus 2 is stored in the
NFC memory part 44M. At this time the control part 41 moves to the
next SP53, acquires the apparatus information from the NFC memory
part 44M by the NFC tag data acquisition part 62 (FIG. 9), and
moves to the next SP54. In other words, even if multiple image
forming apparatuses exist in the image forming system 1, the image
forming apparatus 2 over which the terminal device 3 was held by
the user at this time becomes the target apparatus by which the
user wishes to execute the print process.
[0105] In SP54 the control part 41 refers to the acquired apparatus
information and judges whether the wireless LAN function is enabled
in the image forming apparatus 2. If a negative result is obtained
here, it indicates that information exchange through the wireless
LAN 7 (FIG. 1) with the image forming apparatus 2, specifically
sending a print job, cannot be performed. At this time the control
part 41 moves to the next SP55.
[0106] In SP55 the control part 41 displays a notification screen
D8 shown in FIG. 21B on the display/operation part 45, notifies
through a message 181 that the wireless LAN function in the image
forming apparatus 2 is disabled, and requests the user to enable
the wireless LAN function by modifying the setting. Afterwards,
once an OK button 182 is tapped on this notification screen D8, the
control part 41 returns to SP51.
[0107] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP54,
the control part 41 moves to the next SP56, refers to the acquired
apparatus information again, and judges whether the operation mode
of the wireless LAN is the AP mode in the image forming apparatus
2. If a negative result is obtained here, it indicates that because
the image forming apparatus 2 is not in the AP mode, a connection
through the wireless LAN with the image forming apparatus 2 as the
parent machine and the terminal device 3 as the child machine
cannot be formed. At this time the control part 41 moves to the
next SP57.
[0108] In SP57 the control part 41 displays a notification screen
D9 shown in FIG. 21C on the display/operation part 45, notifies
that the operation mode of the wireless LAN in the image forming
apparatus 2 is other than the AP mode, and further requests the
user to change the operation mode of the wireless LAN to the AP
mode by modifying the setting. Afterwards, once an OK button 192 is
tapped on this notification screen D9, the control part 41 returns
to SP51.
[0109] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP56,
it indicates that because the wireless LAN of the image forming
apparatus 2 is enabled and the operation mode is the AP mode, a
connection through the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1) can be formed with
the image forming apparatus 2 as the parent machine and the
terminal device 3 as the child machine. At this time the control
part 41 moves to the next SP58.
[0110] In SP58 the control part 41 sends the SSID and the password
of the apparatus information by the access point connection
processing part 67 (FIG. 9), thereby trying to connect through the
wireless LAN with the image forming apparatus 2 operating in the AP
mode, and at the same time requests an IP address assignment to the
image forming apparatus 2.
[0111] In response to this, the control part 11 of the image
forming apparatus 2 starts a wireless LAN connection process
procedure RT6 shown in FIG. 22, and moves to the first SP71. In
SP71 the control part 11 collates the SSID and the password
received from the terminal device 3 with the SSID and the password
stored in the authentication information memory part 25 (FIG. 5) as
an authentication process by the authentication execution part 24
(FIG. 3), and moves to the next SP72.
[0112] In SP72 the control part 11 judges whether the
authentication was successful, that is, whether the SSID and the
password received from the terminal device 3 matched with the SSID
and the password stored in the authentication information memory
part 25. If a positive result is obtained here, it indicates that
because the terminal device 3 has acquired proper SSID and
password, a connection with the terminal device 3 through the
wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1) should be permitted. At this time the
control part 11 moves to the next SP73.
[0113] In SP73 the control part 11 assigns a new IP address to the
terminal device 3 and sends the IP address to the terminal device
3, afterwards moves to the next SP74, ending the wireless LAN
connection process procedure RT6.
[0114] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in SP72,
it indicates that because at least one of the SSID and the password
sent from the terminal device 3 mismatches with the SSID or the
password stored in the authentication information memory part 25, a
connection with the terminal device 3 through the wireless LAN 7
(FIG. 1) should not be permitted. At this time the control part 11
does not assign an IP address to the terminal device 3, and moves
to the next SP74, ending the wireless LAN connection process
procedure RT6.
[0115] In response to this, the control part 41 of the terminal
device 3 receives an IP address notification from the image forming
apparatus 2 in SP59 of the wireless LAN connection process
procedure RT5 (FIG. 20), and moves to the next SP60. In SP60 the
control part 41 judges whether an IP address was normally acquired
from the image forming apparatus 2.
[0116] If a negative result is obtained here, it indicates that
because the authentication failed for some reason, no IP address
was assigned, that is, a print job cannot be sent to the image
forming apparatus 2 in such a situation. At this time the control
part 41 moves to the next SP61, displays a notification screen D10
shown in FIG. 23 on the display/operation part 45 to notify through
a message 201 that a connection with the image forming apparatus 2
failed, inquires of the user whether to try the connection again,
and moves to the next SP62.
[0117] In SP62 the control part 41 judges whether a retry button
203 on the notification screen D10 has been tapped (or a retry for
connection/authentication is selected). If a positive result is
obtained here, the control part 41 returns to SP58 and tries to
connect with the image forming apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN
again. Also, if a negative result is obtained in SP62, the control
part 41 returns to SP51 and repeats a series of processes, thereby
acquiring again the apparatus information, that is, the SSID and
the password, through NFC 8 (FIG. 1) from the image forming
apparatus 2.
[0118] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP60,
it indicates that an IP address is assigned from the image forming
apparatus 2, and this IP address allows connecting to the network
of the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1). At this time the control part 41
moves to the next SP63. In SP63 the control part 41 writes the
assigned IP address to the wireless LAN setting memory part 53
(FIG. 9) and has it retained (FIG. 10), and afterwards moves to the
next SP64, ending the wireless LAN connection process procedure
RT5.
1-4-4. Sending Print Job by Terminal Device
[0119] Once finishing the wireless LAN connection process procedure
RT5 (FIG. 20) mentioned above, the control part 41 subsequently
starts a print job sending process procedure RT7 shown in FIG. 24,
and moves to the first SP81. In SP81 the control part 41 sends a
broadcast packet to the network of its assigned IP address by the
broadcast inquiry processing part 68 (FIG. 9), and moves to the
next SP82. Thereby, the control part 41 searches for all
apparatuses connected to the same network through the wireless LAN
7 (FIG. 1).
[0120] In SP82 the control part 41 receives responses to the
broadcast, and moves to the next SP83. At this time, the response
from each apparatus contains the IP address of the apparatus that
is its origin.
[0121] In SP83 the control part 41 specifies by the apparatus
specifying part 69 (FIG. 9) the apparatus whose response was
received first as the target apparatus by which the user wishes the
print process to be executed, and moves to the next SP84. In this
embodiment, in the network formed by the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1)
the terminal device 3 is wirelessly connected with the image
forming apparatus 2 as the parent machine. Therefore, the terminal
device 3 would first receive the response from the image forming
apparatus 2 that is the parent machine. That is, the IP address
indicating the origin of the response received first in SP82
becomes the IP address assigned to the image forming apparatus 2
that is the target apparatus. From another point of view, this IP
address becomes information for specifying the image forming
apparatus 2 in the network formed by the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1).
Therefore, hereafter the IP address of the image forming apparatus
2 is also called image forming apparatus specifying
information.
[0122] In SP84 the control part 41 sends an MIB command to the
target apparatus (that is, the image forming apparatus 2) by the
MIB inquiry processing part 70 (FIG. 9), thereby inquiring whether
the target apparatus is on line, and moves to the next SP85. The
target apparatus may be referred as a target to send. At this time
the MIB inquiry processing part 70 sends an MIB command such as
"1.3.6.1.4.1.2001.1.1.1.1.2.30.0".
[0123] In SP85 the control part 41 receives a response to the MIB
command from the target apparatus, and moves to the next SP86. In
SP86 the control part 41 analyzes the MIB response by the MIB
inquiry processing part 70 to judge whether the target apparatus is
on line.
[0124] If a negative result is obtained here, the control part 41
moves to the next SP87 to display a notification screen D11 shown
in FIG. 25A on the display/operation part 45, notifying through a
message 211 that printing cannot be performed because the image
forming apparatus 2 is off line, and moves to the next SP88. In
SP88 the control part 41 judges whether a cancel button 212 on the
notification screen D11 has been tapped. If a negative result is
obtained here, it indicates that a retry button 213 on the
notification screen D11 has been pressed. At this time, the control
part 41 returns to SP84, thereby sending the MIB command again to
the target apparatus.
[0125] Also, if a positive result is obtained in SP88, it signifies
that the user expressed will to cancel printing by the current
target apparatus. At this time the control part 41 returns to SP51
of the wireless LAN connection process procedure RT5 (FIG. 20),
thereby performing the process again from acquiring the apparatus
information by holding the terminal device 3 over the image forming
apparatus 2.
[0126] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP86,
the control part 41 moves to the next SP89, thereby sending the
print job to the image forming apparatus 2 that is the target
apparatus through the wireless LAN 7 (FIG. 1) by the print job
sending part 65 (FIG. 9), and moves to the next SP90. In response
to this, the image forming apparatus 2 receives the print job sent
from the terminal device 3, generates print data according to the
print setting by the print job processing part 36 (FIG. 3), and
supplies it to the print execution part, thereby performing the
print process.
[0127] In SP90 the control part 41 of the terminal device 3 cuts
off the wireless LAN connection, and moves to the next SP91. In
SP91 the control part 41 displays a registration confirmation
screen D12 shown in FIG. 25B on the display/operation part 45,
thereby inquiring of the user whether to register the image forming
apparatus 2 through a message 221, and moves to the next SP92. In
SP92 the control part 41 judges whether a registration button 223
has been tapped on the registration confirmation screen D12. When
the button is tapped, it means that the registration is
selected.
[0128] If a negative result is obtained here, it indicates that a
cancel button 222 has been tapped, the user of the terminal device
3 has no will to perform a print process in future by the image
forming apparatus 2 that is the current target apparatus, and has
no will to register the image forming apparatus 2. At this time the
control part 41 moves to the next SP93. In SP93 the control part 41
moves to SP31 of the apparatus information acquisition preparation
process procedure RT4 (FIG. 17), thereby returning to the state
immediately after starting up the print application 60. At this
step, the staring up screen of the application is displayed.
Afterwards, the control part 41 repeats the series of processes
according to the user's operation.
[0129] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in SP92,
it indicates that the user of the terminal device 3 has will to
perform a print process in future by the image forming apparatus 2
that is the current target apparatus, and also has will to simplify
the operation next time and thereafter by registering the image
forming apparatus 2 to the print application 60. At this time the
control part 41 moves to the next SP94.
[0130] In SP94 the control part 41 has the apparatus registration
part 71 (FIG. 9) store part of the apparatus information such as
SSID, password, and encryption scheme received from the image
forming apparatus 2 that is the target apparatus in the apparatus
information memory part 72 (FIG. 13), thereby registering the image
forming apparatus 2. The control part 41 further displays a
registered apparatus display screen D13 shown in FIG. 25C on the
display/operation part 45, notifying the user through an icon 232
that the image forming apparatus 2 has been registered, and then
moves to the next SP95, ending the print job sending process
procedure RT7.
1-4-5. Print Process by Registered Image Forming Apparatus
[0131] Next, explained is a process when executing a print process
by the image forming apparatus 2 from the terminal device 3 in a
state where the image forming apparatus 2 is registered as shown in
FIG. 25C, that is, when printing for the second time and thereafter
by the image forming apparatus 2.
[0132] Once the icon 232 is tapped by the user on the registered
apparatus display screen D13 (FIG. 25C), the control part 41 of the
terminal device 3 starts a registered apparatus print process
procedure RT8, and moves to SP101. In this case, because the icon
232 was tapped, the control part 41 comes into a state where the
image forming apparatus 2 represented by the icon 232 is selected
as the target apparatus. Also, the apparatus information of the
image forming apparatus 2 is already stored (FIG. 13) in the
apparatus information memory part 72 (FIG. 9).
[0133] In SP101, in the same manner as in SP31 of the apparatus
information acquisition preparation process procedure RT4 (FIG.
17), the control part 41 displays a startup screen D1 (FIG. 18A) on
the display/operation part 45, and moves to the next SP102.
[0134] In SP102, in the same manner as in SP32 (FIG. 17), the
control part 41 accepts a tapping operation to the photo category
icon 111 (or photo button) on the startup screen D1 by the user,
and moves to the next SP103. In SP103, after displaying the photo
selection screen D2 (FIG. 18B), which includes thumbnails, on the
display/operation part 45, the control part 41 lets the user select
a photo icon 121 or the like on the photo selection screen D2 in
the same manner as in SP34 (FIG. 17), and moves to the next
SP104.
[0135] In SP104, in the same manner as in SP35 (FIG. 17), the
control part 41 displays the preview screen D3 (FIG. 18C) on the
display/operation part 45, and moves to the next SP105. In SP105,
in the same manner as in SP36 (FIG. 17), the control part 41 lets
the user specify a print setting as appropriate, and moves to the
next SP106.
[0136] In SP106, once the print button 134 on the preview screen D3
(FIG. 18C) is tapped, the control part 41 moves to SP58 of the
wireless LAN connection process procedure RT5 (FIG. 20) and
sequentially executes the above-mentioned series of processes
referring to the apparatus information stored in the apparatus
information memory part 72 (FIG. 9).
[0137] That is, in comparison with executing the series of
processes starting with the apparatus information acquisition
preparation process procedure RT4 (FIG. 17), the control part 41 of
the terminal device 3 can save the process related to acquiring
apparatus information by the registered apparatus print process
procedure RT8.
1-5. Efficacy, Etc.
[0138] In the above configuration of the image forming system 1 by
the first embodiment (FIG. 1), when the terminal device 3 that is
not connected to the image forming apparatus 2 set to the AP mode
is held over, the terminal device 3 is notified through NFC 8 of
the apparatus information related to the wireless LAN of the image
forming apparatus 2. The terminal device 3 connects to the image
forming apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN using the acquired
apparatus information, and based on responses obtained by sending a
broadcast, specifies the response from the image forming apparatus
2 to acquire its IP address, and sends a print job to have it
perform a print process of printing an image on a sheet.
[0139] That is, in the image forming system 1, without having the
user of the terminal device 3 perform any complicated setting work
related to the wireless LAN, only by starting the print application
60 in the terminal device 3 and holding it over the image forming
apparatus 2, apparatus information necessary for connecting to the
wireless LAN can be acquired. Afterwards, in the image forming
system 1, upon establishing a connection through the wireless LAN 7
using the apparatus information acquired by the terminal device 3,
the print job is sent to the image forming apparatus 2 to have it
execute the print process, therefore again there is no need to have
the user perform any operation.
[0140] Especially in the image forming system 1, in sending the
apparatus information from the image forming apparatus 2 to the
terminal device 3 through communication via NFC 8, only the SSID
and the password without the IP address of the image forming
apparatus 2 itself were contained in the notification (FIG. 7, FIG.
12, etc.) After doing so, in the image forming system 1, based on
responses to the broadcast, the IP address of the image forming
apparatus 2 is acquired (SP83).
[0141] Thereby, in the image forming system 1, the IP address of
the image forming apparatus 2 need not be stored in advance as
apparatus information, and the most recent IP address can be
acquired from the image forming apparatus 2 immediately before
sending the print job from the terminal device 3. In other words,
in the image forming system 1, even if the IP address of the image
forming apparatus 2 is changed, there is no need to update the
apparatus information stored in the NFC memory part 14M (FIG. 2) or
worry about their mismatch.
[0142] From another point of view, in the image forming system 1,
because the broadcast mechanism prepared in the wireless LAN 7 is
utilized, the terminal device 3 need not separately construct a
dedicated mechanism for acquiring the IP address of the image
forming apparatus 2.
[0143] Also, in the image forming system 1, the wireless LAN of the
image forming apparatus 2 is operated in the AP mode, and the
terminal device 3 is connected to the network of the wireless LAN
having the image forming apparatus 2 as an access point (SP56).
Therefore, in the image forming system 1, the possibility that
other apparatuses than the image forming apparatus 2 are connected
to the same wireless LAN can be suppressed to be extremely low.
[0144] Furthermore, in the image forming system 1, even if other
apparatuses are connected to the network of the wireless LAN having
the image forming apparatus 2 as an access point, when a broadcast
is sent from the terminal device 3, the response from the image
forming apparatus 2 that is an access point can be received first
by the terminal device 3. That is, in the image forming system 1,
the terminal device 3 only needs to specify the origin of the first
response to the broadcast as the target apparatus, and even if
responses from other apparatuses are received, the possibility of
mistakenly specifying another apparatus as the target apparatus can
be eliminated.
[0145] Furthermore, in the image forming system 1, in registering
the image forming apparatus 2 to the print application 60, instead
of the acquired IP address, the SSID, the password, etc. contained
in the apparatus information are registered (SP94). Therefore, in
the image forming system 1, even if the IP address of the image
forming apparatus 2 is changed after the image forming apparatus 2
was registered to the print application 60 of the terminal device
3, unless the SSID and the password are changed, the terminal
device 3 can securely connect to the image forming apparatus 2
through the wireless LAN. In this case, because the terminal device
3 sends a broadcast after connecting to the wireless LAN, based on
the response from the image forming apparatus 2, it can acquire the
new IP address of the image forming apparatus 2 and securely send a
print job to the image forming apparatus 2.
[0146] Also in this case, the IP address assigned to the terminal
device 3 is not stored but abandoned after sending the print job.
Therefore, in the image forming system 1, even if the IP address is
assigned to another device after the lease period of the IP address
assigned by the image forming apparatus 2, because at the next
printing time the terminal device 3 is assigned a new IP address
from the image forming apparatus 2, IP address duplication can be
securely eliminated.
[0147] By the way, in a corporation having multiple branches,
business offices, or the like, there are cases of constructing the
image forming system 1 in each of the branches, business offices,
etc., that is, installing the image forming apparatus 2 in each of
the branches, business offices, etc. Then, in the image forming
systems 1 constructed in the branches, business offices, etc. of
this corporation, the SSIDs and the passwords of the image forming
apparatuses 2 can be made common, and in any of the branches etc. a
terminal device 3 can be held over one of the image forming
apparatuses 2 to connect through the wireless LAN, and the image
forming apparatus 2 can be registered to the print application 60
of the terminal device 3. Then, in the image forming system 1 of
another branch or the like, when the terminal device 3 is brought
in, by executing the registered apparatus print process procedure
RT8 (FIG. 26) in the terminal device 3, printing can be immediately
performed by the image forming apparatus 2 of the branch or the
like using the apparatus information registered at another branch
or the like.
[0148] According to the above configuration, the image forming
system 1 by the first embodiment has the terminal device 3 held
over the image forming apparatus 2 in the AP mode and acquire the
SSID and the password through NFC 8. The terminal device 3 connects
to the image forming apparatus 2 through the wireless LAN, based on
responses to its broadcast, specifies the image forming apparatus 2
that is the target apparatus and acquires the IP address of the
image forming apparatus 2, sends a print job, and has it printed.
Thereby, the image forming system 1 can have the image forming
apparatus 2 perform printing without having the user of the
terminal device 3 perform a complex setting work related to the
wireless LAN.
2. Second Embodiment
[0149] As shown in FIG. 27 that corresponds to FIG. 1, an image
forming system 301 by the second embodiment is different from the
image forming system 1 by the first embodiment in that an image
forming apparatus 302 and a terminal device 303 are each connected
to a wireless LAN 307 formed by an access point 304. That is, the
image forming apparatus 302 is operating in the infra mode.
2-1. Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus and Terminal
Device
[0150] The image forming apparatus 302 (FIG. 2) and the terminal
device 303 (FIG. 8) can mutually send/receive information through
this wireless LAN 307. Also, the image forming apparatus 302 and
the terminal device 303 can mutually send/receive information also
through NFC 308 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
[0151] The image forming apparatus 302 (FIG. 2) has a control part
311 and a memory part 312 substituting for the control part 11 and
the memory part 12 in the first embodiment, and also has the same
wireless LAN communication part 13, NFC tag 14, display/operation
part 15, and print part 16 as in the first embodiment.
[0152] The control part 311 internally has a CPU 17 etc. in the
same manner as in the first embodiment, and controls individual
parts to execute various processes such as a print process by
reading prescribed programs from the memory part 312 and executing
them. The memory part 312 is a nonvolatile information memory
medium such as a hard disk drive in the same manner as the memory
part 12 in the first embodiment, and stores various programs,
various setting information, etc. Also, the memory part 312 stores
print jobs (the details are mentioned below) received from the
terminal device 303 in a prescribed file format.
[0153] Further installed in the memory part 312 as an image forming
apparatus history memory part is a print history table 320 shown in
FIG. 28. The print history table 320 is provided with an
identification information item (or ID information item) 321 to
store identification information (or ID information) mentioned
below and a print job item 322 to store the file names of print
jobs.
[0154] The terminal device 303 (FIG. 8) has a control part 341 and
a memory part 342 substituting for the control part 41 and the
memory part 42 in the first embodiment, and also has the same
wireless LAN communication part 43, NFC tag 44, and
display/operation part 45 as in the first embodiment.
[0155] The control part 341 internally has a CPU 47 etc. in the
same manner as in the first embodiment, and controls individual
parts to execute various processes by reading prescribed programs
from the memory part 342 and executing them. The memory part 342 is
a nonvolatile information memory medium such as flash memory in the
same manner as the memory part 42 in the first embodiment, and
stores various programs, various setting information, etc. Also,
the memory part 342 stores print jobs generated in the past in a
prescribed file format.
[0156] Further installed in the memory part 342 as a terminal
device history memory part is a print history table 350 shown in
FIG. 29. The print history table 350 is provided with an ID item
351 to which unique IDs are assigned, an ID information item 352 to
store ID information mentioned below, and a file item 353 to store
the file names of printed files. The print history table 350 is
further provided with an output destination item 354 to store the
IP addresses of the image forming apparatuses that executed the
print processes, and a print setting item 355 to store the
individual print settings.
2-2. Wireless Connection Print Process
[0157] Next, explained is a wireless connection print process in
the image forming system 301 that a print process is performed by
sending a print job from the terminal device 303 to the image
forming apparatus 302 through the wireless LAN 307.
[0158] Here, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 302 and
the terminal device 303 are connected to the access point 304
through the wireless LAN 307 and are each assigned with an IP
address. Note that it is assumed that the terminal device 303 has
not acquired the IP address of the image forming apparatus 302 and
is in a state of being unable to send a print job. Furthermore, the
user carrying the terminal device 303 is located in the vicinity of
the image forming apparatus 302 and wishes the print process of a
photo (that is, image data) by the image forming apparatus 302. For
the convenience of explanation, hereafter this image forming
apparatus 302 is also called the target apparatus.
[0159] In this image forming system 301, it is explained in the
user's manual etc. that when a print process is performed using the
image forming apparatus 302 from a terminal device 303 that has not
acquired the IP address of the image forming apparatus 302, an
operation called "print by holding over" using the terminal device
303 should be performed. In this "print by holding over", after
performing a prescribed preparation operation in the terminal
device 303, the terminal device 303 is placed adjacent to the NFC
tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 302 to have them perform near
field communication.
[0160] Also, in this embodiment, a process to print a file such as
a photo stored in the terminal device 303 by the image forming
apparatus 302 for the first time is called a new print process, and
a process to print the file by the image forming apparatus 302 for
the second time is called a reprint process. Below, the new print
process and the reprint process are explained.
2-2-1. New Print Process
[0161] In the image forming system 301, according to a sequence
chart shown in FIG. 30, the image forming apparatus 302 and the
terminal device 303 collaborate to execute a new print process.
Specifically, once a prescribed print application is started by the
operation of the user, the control part 341 the terminal device 303
starts a process procedure RT31 in FIG. 30, and moves to SP301.
[0162] In SP301 the control part 341 has the display/operation part
45 display a startup screen D31 shown in FIG. 31A, and moves to the
next SP302. Although this startup screen D31 has a similar
configuration to the startup screen D1 (FIG. 18A) in the first
embodiment, a print history reference button 412 is added.
[0163] In SP302 the control part 341 has the display/operation part
45 display a photo selection screen D2 (FIG. 18B) etc. as
appropriate according to the user's operation (or specification
operation to specify a print target) to the startup screen D31,
thereby letting the user specify a photo (that is, file) that the
user wishes to print, and moves to the next SP303. For the
convenience of explanation, hereafter the file of the specified
photo is also called the target file.
[0164] In response to this, the control part 341 has the
display/operation part 45 display a preview screen D32 shown in
FIG. 31B. This preview screen D32 has the same preview image 131
and print setting specifying part 132 as on the preview screen D3
in the first embodiment. Also, the preview screen D32 has the print
by holding over button 133 omitted from the preview screen D3 and a
new print button 434 installed substituting for the print button
134.
[0165] In SP303 the control part 341 lets the user specify as
appropriate a print setting on the preview screen D32, and once the
print button 434 is tapped, it regards that an instruction (or
print instruction) has been accepted to print the specified photo
(that is, the target file) according to the specified print setting
by the image forming apparatus 302, and moves to the next
SP304.
[0166] In SP304 the control part 341 functions as an identification
information generating part (or ID information generating part),
generates new unique ID information in association with the target
file, and moves to the next SP305. This ID information is, for
example, a 128-bit UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) and is a
value that does not duplicate other ID information generated in the
past by the control part 341 or other ID information generated by
other devices etc. In other words, this ID information is
information for identifying an association with the terminal device
3.
[0167] In SP305 the control part 341 starts generating a print job
for printing the target file according to the specified print
setting, and moves to the next SP306. In SP306 the control part 341
writes the ID information and a new print flag to an NFC memory
part 44M (FIG. 8) of the NFC tag 44, and moves to the next SP307.
Among them, the new print flag is data indicating being a new print
process.
[0168] In SP307 the control part 341 displays a hold-over request
screen D7 (FIG. 21A) on the display/operation part 45, thereby
requesting the user to hold the display terminal 303 over the NFC
tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 302, and moves to the next
SP308. In SP308, once the terminal device 303 is held over the NFC
tag 14 of the image forming apparatus 302 and communication with
the NFC tag 44 through NFC 308 (FIG. 27) is enabled, the control
part 341 sends the ID information and the new print flag stored in
the NFC memory part 44M through NFC 308, and moves to the next
SP309.
[0169] On the other hand, the control part 311 of the image forming
apparatus 302 has started a process procedure RT32 by executing a
prescribed program in advance, and is in a state enabled to receive
communication through NFC 308 and the wireless LAN 307.
[0170] In the first SP321, once the NFC tag 14 receives the ID
information and the new print flag through NFC 308 from the
terminal device 303, the control part 311 stores them in the NFC
memory part 14M, and moves to the next SP322. In SP322, once the
control part 311 reads the ID information and the new print flag
from the NFC memory part 14M and stores them in the memory part
312, it moves to the next SP323.
[0171] On the other hand, in SP309 the control part 341 of the
terminal device 303 requests each terminal device connected to the
network of the wireless LAN 307 for ID information by a broadcast,
and moves to the next SP310. At this time the broadcast contains
the IP address of the terminal device 303 as its origin.
[0172] In response to this, once the control part 311 of the image
forming apparatus 302 receives the broadcast through the wireless
LAN 307 in SP323, it moves to the next SP324. In SP324, as a
response to the broadcast, the control part 311 sends the ID
information received in SP321 to the terminal device 303 that is
the origin of the broadcast. This response contains the IP address
assigned to the image forming apparatus 302 as the origin.
[0173] Incidentally, in the image forming system 301, when other
apparatuses are connected to the wireless LAN 307, responses to the
broadcast are sent also from the other apparatuses to the terminal
device 303.
[0174] In SP310 the control part 341 of the terminal device 303
receives the ID information sent as responses to the broadcast, and
moves to the next SP311. At this time, although the terminal device
303 receives responses from the individual apparatuses connected to
the wireless LAN 307, in this stage it cannot judge which of them
is from the image forming apparatus 302.
[0175] In SP311 the control part 341 collates ID information
contained in the responses received from the individual apparatuses
in SP310 (hereafter called the received ID information) with the ID
information generated in SP304 (hereafter called the original ID
information), and moves to the next SP312. This process may be
referred as a verification process of ID information. In this case,
only in one of at least one received response, the received ID
information would match with the original ID information.
[0176] In SP312 the control part 341 specifies the response whose
received ID information matched with the original ID information as
the one from the target apparatus, that is, from the image forming
apparatus 302 over which the terminal device 303 was held in SP308.
Subsequently, the control part 341 stores the IP address contained
in the specified response as the origin as the IP address of the
image forming apparatus 302, and moves to the next SP313.
[0177] In SP313, setting the specified IP address as the
destination, the control part 341 sends the print job through the
wireless LAN 307 to the destination, that is, the image forming
apparatus 302, and moves to the next SP314. In SP314, the control
part 341 associates the ID information, the target file, the
destination IP address, the print setting, etc. with one another,
stores them as print job information in the print history table 350
(FIG. 29) of the memory part 342, and moves to the next SP315,
ending a startup-time information write process procedure RT1.
[0178] On the other hand, once the print job is sent through the
wireless LAN 307 from the terminal device 303, the control part 311
of the image forming apparatus 302 receives it in SP325, and moves
to the next SP326. In SP326 the control part 311 converts the print
job to prescribed print data as a print process based on the
received print job, supplies it to the print part 16 (FIG. 2),
thereby having it printed, and moves to the next SP327.
[0179] In SP327 the control part 311 associates the ID information
received in SP321 and the file name indicating the print job
received in SP325 with each other, stores them in the print history
table 320 (FIG. 28) of the memory part 312, and afterwards moves to
the next SP328, ending the process procedure RT32.
[0180] Incidentally, the control part 341 of the terminal device
303 also stores date and time (not shown) when recording the print
history to the print history table 350 (FIG. 29) of the memory part
342. Afterwards, once a prescribed period of time such as three
days or one week passes since the recorded date and time, the
control part 341 deletes the individual print history by an unshown
terminal device history deleting part.
[0181] Also, the control part 311 of the image forming apparatus
302 also stores date and time (not shown) when recording the print
history in the print history table 320 (FIG. 28) of the memory part
312. Afterwards, once a prescribed period of time such as three
days or one week passes since the recorded date and time, the
control part 311 deletes the individual print history by an unshown
image forming apparatus history deleting part.
2-2-2. Reprint Process
[0182] In the image forming system 301, in the same manner as in
the new print process, according to a sequence chart shown in FIG.
32, the image forming apparatus 302 and the terminal device 303
collaborate to execute a reprint process. Specifically, once the
print application is started by the operation of the user, the
control part 341 of the terminal device 303 starts a process
procedure RT33 in FIG. 32, and moves to SP331.
[0183] In SP331, in the same manner as in SP301 (FIG. 30), the
control part 341 has the display/operation part 45 display the
startup screen D31 (FIG. 31A), and moves to the next SP332. In
SP332, once the print history reference button 412 on the startup
screen D31 is tapped by the user, the control part 341 moves to the
next SP333. This step may be referred as receiving a tapping
operation of the print history reference button.
[0184] In SP333 the control part 341 has the display/operation part
45 display a print history display screen D33 shown in FIG. 33, and
moves to the next SP334. On this print history display screen D33,
a print history table 441 and a print button 442 are displayed. In
the print history table 441, among the individual pieces of
information stored in the print history table 350 (FIG. 29), the
file name, the destination (that is, the IP address of the image
forming apparatus 302), the print setting, etc. are displayed in a
table format. In this print history table 441, a row can be
selected by the user's operation.
[0185] In SP334, once the print button 442 is tapped in a state
where a row is selected in the print history table 441 on the print
history display screen D33, the control part 341 accepts the
selected operation as an instruction of reprint process to execute
again the selected print history, and moves to the next SP335 (or
receive the selected operation of print history). In SP335 the
control part 341 reads the ID information of the selected print
history from the print history table 350 (FIG. 29) of the memory
part 342, and moves to the next SP336.
[0186] In SP336 the control part 341 writes the ID information and
a reprint flag to the NFC memory part 44M (FIG. 8) of the NFC tag
44, and moves to the next SP337. Among them, the reprint flag is
data indicating being a reprint process.
[0187] In SP337, in the same manner as in SP307 (FIG. 30), the
control part 341 displays the hold-over request screen D7 (FIG.
21A) on the display/operation part 45, thereby requesting the user
to hold the terminal device 303 over the NFC tag 14 of the image
forming apparatus 302, and moves to the next SP338. In SP338, once
the terminal device 303 is held over the NFC tag 14 of the image
forming apparatus 302 enabling communication with the NFC tag 44
through NFC 308 (FIG. 27), the control part 341 sends the ID
information and the reprint flag stored in the NFC memory part 44M
through NFC 308. Afterwards, the control part 341 moves to the next
SP339, ending the process procedure RT33.
[0188] On the other hand, the control part 311 (FIG. 2) of the
image forming apparatus 302 has started a process procedure RT34 by
executing a prescribed program in advance, and is in a state
enabled to receive communication through NFC 308 and the wireless
LAN 307.
[0189] In the first SP351, once the NFC tag 14 (FIG. 2) receives
the ID information and the reprint flag through NFC 308 from the
terminal device 303, the control part 311 stores them in the NFC
memory part 14M, and moves to the next SP352. In SP352, once the
control part 311 reads the ID information and the reprint flag from
the NFC memory part 14M and stores them in the memory part 312, it
moves to the next SP353.
[0190] In SP353 the control part 311 searches the print history
table 320 (FIG. 28) of the memory part 312 for the ID information
matching with the ID information received simultaneously with
receiving the reprint flag as a trigger (hereafter called the
reprint ID information), and moves to the next SP354. In SP354 the
control part 311 reads a print job stored in association with the
ID information matching with the reprint ID information from the
print history table 320 of the memory part 312, and moves to the
next SP355.
[0191] In SP355 the control part 311 converts the print job into
prescribed print data as a print process based on the read print
job, supplies it to the print part 16 (FIG. 2), thereby having it
printed, and afterwards moves to the next SP356, ending the process
procedure RT34.
2-3. Efficacy, Etc.
[0192] In the above configuration, in the image forming system 301
by the second embodiment, once the terminal device 303 whose ID
information has been generated based on the user's operation is
held over the image forming apparatus 302, the image forming
apparatus 302 is notified through NFC 308 of the ID information.
Subsequently, by a broadcast through the wireless LAN 307, the
terminal device 303 requests ID information to be sent, recognizes
the origin of the response having matching ID information among the
received responses as the IP address of the image forming apparatus
302, and sends a print job, having it printed.
[0193] That is, in the image forming system 301, without having the
user of the terminal device 303 perform a complex work of examining
the IP address of the image forming apparatus 302 and further
inputting it on the print application, just holding the terminal
device 303 over the image forming apparatus 302 allows acquiring
the IP address of the image forming apparatus 302 and sending a
print job.
[0194] At this time, in the image forming system 301, through NFC
308 the image forming apparatus 302 is notified of unique ID
information generated in the terminal device 303, and afterwards a
broadcast is sent through the wireless LAN 307 to have individual
apparatuses send their ID information. Therefore, in the image
forming system 301, even if multiple apparatuses are connected to
the wireless LAN 307 and the terminal device 303 receives their
responses to the broadcast, by collating the ID information, the
image forming apparatus 302 over which the user held the terminal
device 303, that is, the target apparatus by which the user wishes
the print process to be executed, can be securely specified.
[0195] Thereby, in the image forming system 301, there is no need
to have the terminal device 303 acquire the IP address of the image
forming apparatus 302 in advance, and the most recent IP address
can be acquired from the image forming apparatus 302 immediately
before sending a print job from the terminal device 303. In other
words, in the image forming system 301, in the same manner as in
the first embodiment, even if the IP address of the image forming
apparatus 302 is been changed, the terminal device 303 can
automatically acquire the most recent IP address of the image
forming apparatus 302 and send the print job.
[0196] Also, in the image forming system 301, when performing a new
print process, new ID information is generated in the terminal
device 303, and the image forming apparatus 302 is notified of this
through NFC 308. Therefore, in the image forming system 301, even
if a print process was performed in the past by notifying another
image forming apparatus connected to the same wireless LAN 307 of
other ID information, because their ID information mutually differ,
the image forming apparatus 302 can be correctly specified as the
target apparatus for this time.
[0197] Furthermore, in the image forming system 301, the terminal
device 303 stores past ID information along with file names,
origins, etc. in the print history table 350 (FIG. 29), and the
image forming apparatus 302 stores past ID information in
association with print jobs in the print history table 320 (FIG.
28). Thereby, in the image forming system 301, when performing a
reprint process to print a once-printed file by the same image
forming apparatus 302 again, only the ID information associated
with the history selected by the user needs to be sent to the same
destination, thereby regeneration or resending of the print job can
be omitted.
[0198] According to the above configuration, in the image forming
system 301 by the second embodiment, the image forming apparatus
302 is notified of the ID information through NFC 308 from the
terminal device 303 held over the image forming apparatus 302. By a
broadcast through the wireless LAN 307 the terminal device 303
requests the ID information to be sent, specifies the image forming
apparatus 302 based on a match of the ID information, and sends a
print job, having it printed. Thereby, in the image forming system
301, without having the user of the terminal device 303 perform a
complex work related to the wireless LAN, merely holding the
terminal device 303 over the image forming apparatus 302 allows
acquiring the IP address of the image forming apparatus 302 and
sending the print job.
3. Other Embodiments
[0199] Note that stated in the first embodiment mentioned above was
a case where the apparatus that first sent a response to the
broadcast was specified as the target apparatus, and stated in the
second embodiment was a case where the apparatus that sent matching
ID information was specified as the target apparatus. However, this
invention is not limited to these, but various other methods can be
used to specify one of the responses to the broadcast as the one
from the target apparatus. Essentially, the terminal device 3 or
the like only needs to acquire the IP address of the image forming
apparatus 2 or the like that is the target apparatus based on the
origin IP address contained in the responses to the broadcast.
[0200] Also, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above was a
case where in SP82 and SP83 (FIG. 24) the terminal device 3
receives a response to the broadcast and acquires the origin IP
address contained in the response as the IP address of the image
forming apparatus 2 that is the target apparatus. However, this
invention is not limited to this, but various information such as
MAC (Media Access Control) address that can specify the image
forming apparatus 2 in the network formed by the wireless LAN 7 can
be contained in the response to the broadcast and sent so that the
terminal device 3 receiving the response acquires this information.
The same also applies to the second embodiment.
[0201] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above
was a case where the terminal device 3 is held over the image
forming apparatus 2 to acquire the SSID and the password of the
wireless LAN through NFC 8. However, this invention is not limited
to this, but the SSID and the password can be acquired by various
methods. For example, the SSID and the password can be displayed on
the display/operation part 15 of the image forming apparatus 2, and
the user can input these to the terminal device 3. Alternatively,
the SSID and the password can be displayed in a two-dimensional
code on the display/operation part 15 of the image forming
apparatus 2, and the two-dimensional code can be read using a
camera (not shown) built in the terminal device 3 to acquire the
SSID and the password.
[0202] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above
was a case where the apparatus that first sent a response to the
broadcast from the terminal device 3 was regarded as the target
device. However, this invention is not limited to this, but for
example, all the devices whose responses to the broadcast were
received can be displayed as icons, a list, or the like on the
display/operation part 45 of the terminal device 3 to let the user
select one of them. Thereby, in a state where as opposed to the
image forming apparatus 2 operating in the AP mode, another image
forming apparatus 505 operating in the infra mode is connected
through the wireless LAN 7 as in the image forming system 501 shown
in FIG. 34 that corresponds to FIG. 1 for example, a print process
can be executed by letting the user select one of the image forming
apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 505. That is, in the
image forming system 501, by merely holding the terminal device 3
over only one unit of multiple image forming apparatuses, the user
can acquire information on all the image forming apparatuses.
[0203] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above
was a case where the generation of the print job was started in
SP42 (FIG. 17) that was earlier than SP58 (FIG. 20) where the
terminal device 3 was connected through the wireless LAN 7 to the
image forming apparatus 2. However, this invention is not limited
to this, but for example the generation of the print job can be
started at various timings such as after the terminal device 3 and
the image forming apparatus 2 are connected through the wireless
LAN 7.
[0204] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above
was a case where when the registration of the image forming
apparatus 2 was instructed after sending a print job from the
terminal device 3 to the image forming apparatus 2, the SSID and
the password were stored in the apparatus information memory part
72 (FIG. 13) but the IP address was not stored (FIG. 24, SP94).
However, this invention is not limited to this, but instead of the
SSID and the password, or along with the SSID and the password, the
IP address can be stored. In this case, when performing a print
process from the terminal device 3 by specifying the registered
image forming apparatus 2, if the IP address of the image forming
apparatus 2 is changed after the registration, and therefore the
connection through the wireless LAN 7 could not be established
using the registered IP address, reassignment of an IP address can
be performed using the SSID and the password.
[0205] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above
was a case where if the wireless LAN function was disabled in the
image forming apparatus 2, and if the operation mode was not the AP
mode (FIG. 20, SP55 and SP57), the notification screens D8 and D9
(FIGS. 21B-21C) were displayed on the display/operation part 45 of
the terminal device 3 to notify the user. However, this invention
is not limited to this, but for example the messages 181 and 191 on
the notification screens D8 and D9 etc. can be displayed on the
display/operation part 15 of the image forming apparatus 2 to
notify the user. Also, in these cases, a specific operation
procedure for the image forming apparatus 2 can be announced in
either the terminal device 3 or the image forming apparatus 2.
[0206] Furthermore, stated in the second embodiment mentioned above
was a case where unique ID information was generated every time
when newly performing the print process of a file in the terminal
device 303. However, this invention is not limited to this, but
information proprietary to the terminal device 303, such as the
manufacturer's serial number, can be sent as the ID information.
Alternatively, numbers indicating the date and time of the
generation can be combined with this manufacturer's serial number
to make the ID information. Essentially, when the response to a
broadcast is received, the image forming apparatus 302 over which
the terminal device 303 was held only needs to be specified as the
target apparatus based on the ID information contained in the
response.
[0207] Furthermore, stated in the second embodiment mentioned above
was a case where a print history was recorded in the print history
table 350 (FIG. 29) installed in the memory part 342 of the
terminal device 303 after executing a print process. However, this
invention is not limited to this, but for example the print history
table 350 can be omitted from the memory part 342 not to record any
print history. The same applies to the print history table 320 of
the image forming apparatus 302.
[0208] Furthermore, stated in the second embodiment mentioned above
was a case where the print history table 320 (FIG. 28) was stored
in the memory part 312 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 302.
However, this invention is not limited to this, but for example the
print history table 320 can be installed in the memory part of a
server or the like (not shown) connected with the image forming
apparatus 302 through a prescribed network (not shown) to store the
ID information etc. In this case, in addition to the image forming
apparatus 302, the ID information etc. in the print history table
320 can be read from another image forming apparatus connected to
the network and can be used.
[0209] Furthermore, stated in the second embodiment mentioned above
was a case where after executing a print process, when a prescribed
period of time had passed since recording the print history in the
print history table 350 (FIG. 29) of the terminal device 303, the
print history was deleted. However, this invention is not limited
to this, but for example print history can be recorded in the print
history table 350 up to the maximum recordable number of cases, and
when the number of recorded cases has reached the maximum number of
cases, the oldest one can be deleted and a new print history can be
recorded. The same also applies to the print history table 320
(FIG. 28) of the image forming apparatus 302.
[0210] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment was a case where
a photo (image data) retained in advance by the terminal device 3
in the memory part 12 was printed by the image forming apparatus 2.
However, this invention is not limited to this, but for example,
various data such as documents retained in advance by the terminal
device 3 in the memory part 12 or various data that can be acquired
through an external network such as the Internet can be printed by
the image forming apparatus 2. The same also applies to the second
embodiment.
[0211] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment was a case where
this invention was applied to the image forming system 1 having the
terminal device 3 made of a smartphone. However, this invention is
not limited to this but can be applied to, for example, an image
forming system having a terminal device made of various information
processing device such as a tablet terminal or a notebook computer
having a wireless LAN and NFC. Essentially, the terminal device
only needs to acquire device information through NFC from the image
forming apparatus 2. The same also applies to the second
embodiment. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the terminal
device and the image forming apparatus 302 can be connected through
not only the wireless LAN 307 but also a wired LAN.
[0212] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment was a case where
this invention was applied to the image forming system 1 having the
image forming apparatus 2 that operates as a copier or a facsimile
machine other than a printer. However, this invention is not
limited to this but can be applied to an image forming system
having an image forming apparatus that operates only as a printer
for example. The same also applies to the second embodiment.
[0213] Furthermore, this invention is not limited to the
above-mentioned individual embodiments or other embodiments. That
is, the scope of application of this invention includes embodiments
that are arbitrary combinations of part or the whole of the
above-mentioned individual embodiments and other embodiments and
embodiments that are extractions of part of the embodiments.
[0214] Furthermore, stated in the first embodiment mentioned above
was a case where the image forming system 1 as an image forming
system was configured of the image forming apparatus 2 as an image
forming apparatus, the terminal device 3 as a terminal device, and
the wireless LAN 7 as a network. Among them, the terminal device
was configured of the broadcast inquiry processing part 68 as a
broadcast sending part and a response receiving part, the apparatus
specifying part 69 as an apparatus specifying part, and the print
job sending part 65 as a print job sending part. Also, the image
forming apparatus was configured of the broadcast response
processing part 27 as a response sending part and the print part 16
as an image forming part. However, this invention is not limited to
this, but the image forming system can be configured of an image
forming apparatus, a terminal device, and a network having various
other configurations. In this case, the terminal device can be
configured of a broadcast sending part, a response receiving part,
an apparatus specifying part, and a print job sending part having
various configurations, and the image forming apparatus can be
configured of a response sending part and an image forming part
having various configurations.
[0215] This invention can be utilized when a print process is
executed by sending a print job from a terminal device to an image
forming apparatus through a wireless LAN for example.
[0216] In the application, to send the broadcast may mean to send a
broadcast packet/packets. The broadcast packet/packets are
configured to be in accordance with a broadcasting format such that
the packet/packets are able to be distributed to one or more of
destinations. Such a distribution may be referred as "broadcasting"
or "multicasting." When a packet/packets are sent to a single
destination, such a distribution may be referred as "normal
communication" or "single casting." The terminal devices and the
image forming apparatus may be configured to perform a
communication not only in a broadcasting but in a single casting
also.
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